Books on history

garygibsonsf · 01-21-2009, 10:51 AM

I'm looking for some recommendations for general books on history; world history in particular. I'm up to my ears in fiction and need a break. Any ideas?

Peadar Ó Guilín · 01-21-2009, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garygibsonsf

I'm looking for some recommendations for general books on history; world history in particular. I'm up to my ears in fiction and need a break. Any ideas?

The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers by Paul M. Kennedy is a dense, but mind-opening read. You'll never fall for propaganda again. It's also the book of choice on the subject for lots of famous politicians. It has certainly changed the way I think about conflict.

The Scramble for Africa by Thomas Pakenham. Another dense one, but with a different effect on the mind. Basically, even if you're an atheist, you'll find yourself constantly muttering, "My God! They did what?"

Berlin: The Downfall by Anthony Beevor. Towards the end of WW2, the average age of recruits in the German army had fallen so far, that they were handing out more sweets in the ration packs than cigarettes. Heroic, horrific, heart-breaking and mind-blowing. It's all here, death and more death.

Fermat's Last Theorem by Simon Singh. This is an easy read, tracing the attempts of mathematicians through the ages who tried to resolve a particular conundrum. I am far from being a filthy math-lover, but after reading this, I can almost understand why they engage in such practices

There are plenty of lighter books available, but for some reason I haven't read many of them yet. This is not snobbery, it's just the way it's worked out.

My next target is Tom Holland's Millennium.

DixieGal · 01-21-2009, 12:14 PM

I'd like to read Scramble for Africa. Maybe after I finish the remaining 3,000 pages of World Without End. BTW, if you are interested in medieval life, The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End are fascinating (but long) looks at how life revolved around the churches back then. It's fiction, but heavy on cathedral building facts.

BlackVoid · 01-21-2009, 01:32 PM

I recommend these:
B. H. Liddel Hart - Strategy - strategy through the ages
B. H. Liddel Hart - The History of the Second World War (best book on WW2)
Jared Diamond - Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies - this deals with the whole of history

Current geopolitics / 20th century:
Pepe Escobar - Globalistan (free ebook on the net)
John Perkins - The Secret History of the American Empire

Faenad · 01-21-2009, 06:53 PM

I'm still looking for a good, comprehensive book on world history ; I don't even know if it would be possible in one book.

Here are my two of my favorites :

Europe : an history by Norman Davies.
http://www.amazon.com/Europe-History.../dp/0060974680
Treats Europe as a whole, from prehistory to modern times. The author do not only focus on the major European power but cover also Eastern Europe and the nations that today have vanished. Very well written, read as a novel.

A History of the American People by Paul Johnson
http://www.amazon.com/History-Americ...gy_cc_b_text_a
An history of the USA. Very smooth reading here as well.

lilac_jive · 01-21-2009, 08:20 PM

The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester is AWESOME! It is about the formation of the Oxford English dictionary and the murderer/crazy guy who helped them out.

I don't know anyone who hasn't read this book and not loved it.

Nate the great · 01-21-2009, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faenad

I'm still looking for a good, comprehensive book on world history ; I don't even know if it would be possible in one book.

That simply isn't possible. A comprehensive book on world history would be about the size of the Encyclopedia Britannica.

garygibsonsf · 01-21-2009, 10:47 PM

Thank you, all. That certainly gives me a lot to start with. Curiously enough, I was thinking about Simon Winchester's 'The Man Who Loved China', of interest to me since I'm currently based in Taipei (and it also helps that Fictionwise sell it). All these books sound seriously interesting - I might have read one of Beevor's other books, but a long time ago.

pshrynk · 01-21-2009, 11:01 PM

David McCullough's books are all pretty much very readable and anjoyable. Path Between the Seas, Truman, and John Adams are three that I have read.

wayspooled · 01-22-2009, 01:51 AM

I jumped away from fiction into history for awhile too and half my reading wasn't in ebooks but I took a look and found 3 in ebook that I read and would recommend. The historical fiction The Coffee Traders by David Liss lead me to an actual history of coffee (not in ebook) which was a neat read about 300 years, and then I decided to follow that thread and I read these 2 which are ebook available.

Salt: A World History

Spice: The History of a Temptation

Then I read a great ebook about G. Washington "His Excellency: George Washington" by Joseph Ellis. Explained a lot about why all those guys - Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, all thought Washington was the best of them. A fine read. A couple of Ellis's other books have won major awards, I expect this one will to.

Hope that helps.

lilac_jive · 01-22-2009, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garygibsonsf

Thank you, all. That certainly gives me a lot to start with. Curiously enough, I was thinking about Simon Winchester's 'The Man Who Loved China', of interest to me since I'm currently based in Taipei (and it also helps that Fictionwise sell it). All these books sound seriously interesting - I might have read one of Beevor's other books, but a long time ago.

I have read several of his books and liked them, but I haven't read that one.

garygibsonsf · 01-22-2009, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

I have read several of his books and liked them, but I haven't read that one.

I noticed earlier while browsing that The Man Who Loved China is also known as Bomb, Book and Compass - that might be the UK title, I think.

Has anyone read Peter Ackroyd's 'biography' of London?

lilac_jive · 01-22-2009, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garygibsonsf

I noticed earlier while browsing that The Man Who Loved China is also known as Bomb, Book and Compass - that might be the UK title, I think.

Has anyone read Peter Ackroyd's 'biography' of London?

No, but it's on my list.

You should read it and tell me how it is

Sparrow · 01-22-2009, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

I don't know anyone who hasn't read this book and not loved it.

I think my brain just blew a gasket.

Too many nots, or not? I'm not sure.

Penforhire · 01-22-2009, 02:03 PM

For an different perspective on world history check out "Guns, Germs, and Steel" by Jared Diamond. Certainly can't be taken as fact (what history can?) but many of the arguments are pursuasive and it ranges widely.

01-21-2009, 10:51 AM	#1
garygibsonsf Addict Posts: 321 Karma: 432192 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite	Books on history I'm looking for some recommendations for general books on history; world history in particular. I'm up to my ears in fiction and need a break. Any ideas?

01-21-2009, 06:53 PM	#5
Faenad Ad astra per aspera Posts: 347 Karma: 724 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mexico Device: PRS-505, PRS-300 & HTC HD2	I'm still looking for a good, comprehensive book on world history ; I don't even know if it would be possible in one book. Here are my two of my favorites : Europe : an history by Norman Davies. http://www.amazon.com/Europe-History.../dp/0060974680 Treats Europe as a whole, from prehistory to modern times. The author do not only focus on the major European power but cover also Eastern Europe and the nations that today have vanished. Very well written, read as a novel. A History of the American People by Paul Johnson http://www.amazon.com/History-Americ...gy_cc_b_text_a An history of the USA. Very smooth reading here as well. Last edited by Faenad; 01-21-2009 at 06:56 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
SciFi history?	mike_bike_kite	General Discussions	351	09-26-2010 02:34 PM
Search History is getting in my way	RichieTheK	Calibre	10	09-26-2010 09:11 AM
History/adventure books	Rumpelteazer	Reading Recommendations	13	09-22-2010 09:05 AM
Time Travel &/or History Books	HorridRedDog	Reading Recommendations	62	04-21-2010 08:50 PM

01-21-2009, 12:14 PM	#3
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	I'd like to read Scramble for Africa. Maybe after I finish the remaining 3,000 pages of World Without End. BTW, if you are interested in medieval life, The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End are fascinating (but long) looks at how life revolved around the churches back then. It's fiction, but heavy on cathedral building facts.

01-21-2009, 01:32 PM	#4
BlackVoid Evangelist Posts: 415 Karma: 510423 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: Sony PRS-505	I recommend these: B. H. Liddel Hart - Strategy - strategy through the ages B. H. Liddel Hart - The History of the Second World War (best book on WW2) Jared Diamond - Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies - this deals with the whole of history Current geopolitics / 20th century: Pepe Escobar - Globalistan (free ebook on the net) John Perkins - The Secret History of the American Empire

01-21-2009, 08:20 PM	#6
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester is AWESOME! It is about the formation of the Oxford English dictionary and the murderer/crazy guy who helped them out. I don't know anyone who hasn't read this book and not loved it.

01-21-2009, 10:47 PM	#8
garygibsonsf Addict Posts: 321 Karma: 432192 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite	Thank you, all. That certainly gives me a lot to start with. Curiously enough, I was thinking about Simon Winchester's 'The Man Who Loved China', of interest to me since I'm currently based in Taipei (and it also helps that Fictionwise sell it). All these books sound seriously interesting - I might have read one of Beevor's other books, but a long time ago.

01-21-2009, 11:01 PM	#9
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,726 Karma: 8255450 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!	David McCullough's books are all pretty much very readable and anjoyable. Path Between the Seas, Truman, and John Adams are three that I have read.

01-22-2009, 01:51 AM	#10
wayspooled Crab In The Dark Posts: 486 Karma: 2328180 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Device: Tablet PC until a 10" comes out that I like	I jumped away from fiction into history for awhile too and half my reading wasn't in ebooks but I took a look and found 3 in ebook that I read and would recommend. The historical fiction The Coffee Traders by David Liss lead me to an actual history of coffee (not in ebook) which was a neat read about 300 years, and then I decided to follow that thread and I read these 2 which are ebook available. Salt: A World History Spice: The History of a Temptation Then I read a great ebook about G. Washington "His Excellency: George Washington" by Joseph Ellis. Explained a lot about why all those guys - Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, all thought Washington was the best of them. A fine read. A couple of Ellis's other books have won major awards, I expect this one will to. Hope that helps.

01-22-2009, 02:03 PM	#15
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	For an different perspective on world history check out "Guns, Germs, and Steel" by Jared Diamond. Certainly can't be taken as fact (what history can?) but many of the arguments are pursuasive and it ranges widely.

Advert

Advert